driving from Las Vegas to Palm Springs...!!!

Hi...have never been to Vegas , so we are planning a 3 nite stay, then driving to Palm Springs (again never been), and will be there for 4 days.

Any suggestions as to what sights are along the way???

Would like to see the Grand Canyon and of course some of the strip attractions.

We would arrive Las Vegas Thursday then drive to Palm Springs on Sunday late afternoon..the hotel rates really jump from night to night, because of the weekend, so would we be better spending Thur. nite on the strip, and then going a little further away on the other two nights???

Sorry to ramble..getting excited....

Many thanks

driving from Las Vegas to Palm Springs...!!!

Ah, one of my favorit methods - sort of....

Every year I do a trip similar to that - I start out in Vegas during the week, drive to L.A. for the weekend, and then to Palm Springs for a 2-day/1-night stay, and then drive up to Vegas to complete the trip.

By starting mid-week in Vegas, I get the lower rates there, and when the rates jump up in Vegas for the weekend, I drive out to L.A. There are good deals in L.A. on the weekends because business travelers go home and leave lot of hotels empty. So I usually drive out on Fri. morning and stay till Sunday, and then on Sunday I drive to Palm Springs. I usually spend only one, sometimes 2 nights in Palm Springs, then I drive up to Vegas THROUGH THE DESERT, NOT ON I-15. Much more pleasant and scenic.

I will be doing this trip starting this coming Monday, actually.

Anyway, my advice to you is to go to Palm Springs on Friday and stay till Sunday, and then return to Vegas Sunday afternoon. I think you%26#39;ll get a much better deal on hotels in Vegas this way.

In Palm Springs, it%26#39;s all about quiet, relaxation, and the desert. Vegas is more about all-around fun, whether it be excitement or relaxation - you have your choice. So finishing up in Vegas lets you really relax and do what you want. Also, doing it this way you get all the driving out of the way. It%26#39;s not as relaxing when you have to drive back to Vegas only to pack up and leave for home within a day.

Also, make sure you do the drive through the desert. From I-15, get on Nipton Rd just after the CA/NV border, then drive down the Kelso/Cima Rd. through the Mojave National Preserve. At Kelso, go South (a left turn after the big train station that%26#39;s there) onto Kelbaker Rd, and follow that down PAST I-40. When you come to a ';T';, turn right and that will take you a few miles to Amboy, recognizable by all the ';Roy%26#39;s'; stuff there - Roy%26#39;s dinere, gas station, etc. Here, you will turn LEFT and follow this road (Amboy Road) all the way to 29 Palms. At Rt. 167 in 29 Palms, turn right and follow this all the way to Palm Springs (you will pass I-10 when you are close to Palm Springs).

Along this route you can see a lot of beautiful desert scenery, varying from mountains to lava fields and a bit off the path are even sand dunes. Cima is a ghost town and so is Kelso, although Kelso has a restored train station. These are REAL ghost towns, not redone as attractions, so they are old shacks and buildings, and actually mostly the crumbling foundations and remains of buildings. In Amboy you have all the Roy%26#39;s stuff, and after 29 Palms when you get to Joshua Tree (the town) you will see the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, so that%26#39;s another option.

In the Palm Springs area, you have Tahquitz Canyon where you can hike and see petroglyphs, you also have the Palm Springs tram which goes up the mountain. Not too far from Palm Springs you will find ';the Living Desert';, a beautiful little zoo/gardens which is well worth visiting - i love that place. I also like to go to Indio to Shields%26#39; Date Gardens, where they give samples of dates and sell dates and date products. The ';Date Shake'; is very popular throughout the desert cities area.

Anyway, take my advice, I think it will save you money and even some time as you avoid crowds in Vegas this way, and it will be easier and more enjoyable. By the way, the Grand Canyon does not fit into this trip - that is about 6 to 8 hours the opposite direction from Vegas. Make that a separate trip.

PM me if you want more info, I%26#39;d be happy to help. I%26#39;m actually doing this trip (modified though) starting this Monday, I%26#39;m doing Vegas for two days, then San Diego for 2 days, then L.A. for the weekend, then Palm Springs a week from Monday, returning to Vegas the following Tues. night and returning home Sunday the 23rd. I%26#39;m taking my friend who has never been further west than Louisiana, so it%26#39;s his first time to all of this.

Have fun planning !!! Let us know how things go!

driving from Las Vegas to Palm Springs...!!!

Fabulous suggestions---it%26#39;s one of my favorite areas too. I love deserts almost as much as I love the beach....sigh.

One bit of info we%26#39;ll need is when (approximately) you plan to travel, as that part of the world can get a bit roasty toasty in the summertime!

One of my favorite spots is Joshua Tree. The desert actually changes from high to low halfway through the park and you can see the difference in terrain, plants, etc. If you%26#39;re there during wildflower season (springtime), wow is all I can say---and that%26#39;s for the WHOLE desert region (though flowering times vary with altiude and location, if you want info on that just ask).

Check out some of the other forums on places you%26#39;ve mentioned for advice on things to see and places to go. I agree, being out of Vegas for the weekend is a good idea. You can relax in Palm Springs, although there are several nice little casino resorts in the immediate vicinty, too :-)

And do be sure to have a date shake (yummM!) AND, when in Las Vegas, a slushie drink from downtown on Fremont Street :-)

Thankyou so much...I may end up asking more questions, especially after you have come back from your trip!! The fun part now is checking out the guide books, maps, web site etc.

We have to fly into Vegas on the Thurs (Jan 31), and leave from Palm Springs on the following Fri(Feb 8), as their is a great seat sale ($700.00 for the 2 of us), and its usually $1400.00!!!

Once again, many thanks..

That%26#39;s a good time---not too hot at all, though the nights can be chilly (probably not as chilly as where you%26#39;re from, though!). Might be rain too, you never know.

Planning the trip is half the fun. Enjoy!

Johnny: great reply. It almost makes up for your trolling re day care and cheap beer!!

While driving from L.A. to Vegas, I sometimes take the 40 from Barstow, and then drive through the desert via Kelso and Cima, getting back on the 15 at the Nipton or Cima entrances. It is a great detour to take for the scenery and the history.

I nevdr drove the rest of the way, between Palm Springs and the I-40, but you make me want to try it. But only if I can find some cheap beer to feed to the kids to keep them quiet.

Battlscar

Kitty - deserts and beaches are pretty much my favorites, too. If you think about it, a beach is nothing more than a little piece of desert next to an ocean!!!

Mike45 - I%26#39;m glad this post helps me make partial amends for my trolling. I also love that area of the Mojave Preserve, it%26#39;s definitely worth the side-trip for the history and scenery. I wasn%26#39;t aware that they are going to make the Mojave Preserve a national park, but it makes sense, it should be one. As for what to do with the kids, I don%26#39;t know about giving them cheap beer - it%26#39;s kind of a waste, better to drink it yourself. The best thing to do with the kids is take them to Vegas and then give them $20 and drop them off at the NYNY arcade and then go and gamble for a couple hours while they%26#39;re busy spending the 20 bucks on video games. ;)

Oops, left out my reply to the OP, Battlescar!!!

Battlescar, I was unaware of the situation with your airfare deal. If that%26#39;s the only way to save that much, then you%26#39;re better off just doing it as you originally planned. I find it odd, though, that flying into one place and out of the other would be cheaper than flying round trip to LAS only. Also, have you checked with the car rental agency about additional fees for picking up a car in LAS and dropping it off in Palm Springs? My experience is that there is normally a charge for that and it can be steep.

In any case, definitely do what works best for your budget; however, be sure you%26#39;ve checked all your options before finalizing your plans. Good luck! Feel free to reach me if you need anything else. :) Have fun planning!!!

Hi all,

I will be driving to desert hills premium outlet (near palm springs) on a sunday morning in Mid april from LA. Will spend the whole Sunday shopping there and probably leave at 6pm from the Outlet to Vegas

I am consider staying a night in Barstow coz I might arrive about 2 1/2 hrs, have not booked any hotel there yet coz haven%26#39;t really decide whether to drive all the way to Vegas (I might be dead tired and afraid no rooms in vegas or having to drive around on a Sunday night time searching for one) or stay a night in Barstow.

Has anyone stayed in Barstow? Any decent hotel just for a rest for the night to recommend? Have not booked any rooms in Barstow as well, I wouldn%26#39;t have any problems finding one right??

Thanks..